JUNIOR SCHOOL
MR TOM SAVILL HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL
MIRROR , MIRROR ON THE WALL – AM I THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL ?
JUNIOR SCHOOL BOYS ’ MULTIPLE MOMENTS OF MINDFULNESS
Mindfulness is a term that has permeated society in recent times . It is a concept and practice that schools throughout the world have engaged with , linked curriculum related activities to and embedded within the school day . In its simplest form , ‘ mindfulness ’ can be considered as an individual being conscious and accepting of their present state . If achieved , it becomes a valuable and rewarding endeavour .
Each week , boys in the Junior School enjoy and engage in multiple moments of mindfulness , helping them better understand their present state and supporting them with their own individual growth journeys .
While many educational institutions have taken steps to explicitly reference and draw attention to ‘ mindfulness ’ in their timetables ( e . g ., at events or within their lesson planning ), this is not an approach that the Junior School feels it has needed to take . In the Junior School , mindful opportunity is more subtly woven into everyday elements of our boys ’ daily experience .
At Scotch we are very much cognisant of the benefits of ‘ mindful ’ moments , regularly reflecting on such opportunity for the boys ( and staff ). This is particularly the case when focused on the boys ’ learning .
Mindfulness could be considered as looking into a mirror , effectively reflecting on oneself . Helping the boys look into a mirror and reflect on their current state has enormous benefits for learning and social / emotional regulation . However , there can be some challenges associated with such efforts . When looking in the mirror at ourselves , we sometimes descend into a comparative mindset and look for fault . We may ask ‘ Am I the fairest of them all ?’. We can often reflect on the negative first before looking at the positive . Effective mindfulness activities can help shift this narrative , promoting the positive .
While much of the narrative relating to mindfulness might often be interpreted as stepping away from challenge , I believe it is an active reflective process which can benefit boys during moments of challenge . The boys of the Junior School understand the importance of reflective practice in their learning and
16 Great Scot Issue 166 – September 2022